Bordeaux - Grapes Flashcards
Name the most planted 6 grapes in the region in descending order
Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Other Reds (Petit Verdot/Malbec) Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Muscadelle
What percentage of all plantings in Bordeaux is represented by merlot?
58% of all plantings in Bordeaux
What percentage of plantings in the region are black grapes?
about 90% of plantings in the region
What % production of the AOC wine is red?
85% of the regions AOC wines
What percentage of all plantings in Bordeaux is represented by Cab Sav?
20% of all plantings the region
What percentage of all plantings in Bordeaux is represented by Cab Franc?
8% of all plantings in the region
What % production of the AOC wines are white?
10% of the regions AOC wines
What % production of the AOC wines are rosé?
4% of the regions AOC wines
What % production of the AOC wines are sweet whites?
1% of the regions AOC wines
When does Merlot bud and when does it ripen?
Early budding and mid-ripening
Which Bordeaux grape other than Merlot also buds early and is mid-ripening?
Cabernet Franc
What is coulure?
Excessive shedding of ovaries and berries causing irregular sized bunches and yield loss
Give 2 advantages associated with Merlot
1) Can be picked before autumn rains
2) Can fully ripen even in cooler years (less vintage variation than Cab Sav)
Give 5 disadvantages associated with Merlot
1) Susceptible to coulure
2) Susceptible to bunch rot
3) Susceptible to Spring frost damage
4) Susceptible to drought
5) Gives higher sugar levels than either Cab which is problematic in the time of CLIMATE CHANGE
What does Merlot taste like in Bordeaux in cooler years?
It tastes of red plum, strawberry and herbaceous flavors
What does Merlot taste like in Bordeaux in hot years?
It tastes of cooked blackberries and black plums
Describe Merlot’s typical structure
INTENSITY - medium to pronounced fruit
TANNINS - medium
ALCOHOL - medium to high alcohol
ACID - medium
What types of soils do merlot thrive in?
It prefers cool, damp soils (Right Bank and Enter de Mars)
What are the budding and ripening times of Cabernet Sauvignon?
Late budding and late ripening
What are some of the advantages of Cabernet Sauvignon in the vineyard?
- it is late budding and may avoid spring frosts
- small berries have high pip to pulp ratios and therefore high tannins (good for ageing
- hardwood therefore easy machine harvesting
To what diseases are Cabernet Sauvignon susceptible?
Fungal diseases, trunk diseases (Eutypa dieback and Esca), powdery mildew
What is Cab Savs soil preference?
well drained, warm soils prefereably acidic
Is Cab Sav vunerable to early Autumn rains? If so , why?
yes because it is late ripening
Is Cabernet Franc and Merlot vunerable to early Autumn rains?
No. they are mid-ripening
What does Cabernet Sauvignon taste like?
Violets, blackcurrant, black cherry, menthol, herbaceous flavors
Describe Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure?
INTENSITY - pronounced
TANNINS - high
ALCOHOL - medium
ACID - high
Describe the structure of Cabernet Franc
INTENSITY - medium to pronounced
TANNINS - medium
BODY - medium to medium (+)
ACID - high
What does Cabernet Franc taste like?
RED FRUIT such as raspberries and redcurrants as well as FLORAL like violets
What are the most advantageous viticultural characteristics of Cab Franc?
- avoids early Autumn rains due to mid ripening
- buds early so can fully mature in the season
- winter hardy so good for cool areas
Name some disadvantageous viticultural characteristics of Cab Franc?
- Prone to coulure and therefore lower yields
- Prone to Spring frosts
- Leafy flavors if unripe grapes used
Which RB property makes wine dominated by Cab Franc?
Ch. Cheval Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc and Cab Franc coparented which varietal?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What are the preferred soils of Cabernet Franc in the region?
Limestone-clay; sand
What are the taste characteristics of Petit Verdot?
Black fruit (cherries and plums), Florals (violets and lilac) and Herbs (sage) and spice
When does PV bud, ripen and what climate does it prefer?
Early budding , later ripening, prefers warm to hot climates
What are the advantages of PV in the vineyard?
-tight clusters make it resistant to fungal attack,
What are the disadvantages of PV in the vineyard?
-prone to drought, under ripeness in cooler years (not a disadvantage in CLIMATE CHANGE) and spring frost
Describe Petit Verdot Structure
INTENSITY - medium to pronounced
TANNINS - high
BODY - full
ACID - medium (+)
Which prestigious producers use a significant amount of PV in their blends?
Ch. Palmer and Ch. Margaux
Which soils does Petit Verdot prefer?
gravel
What are the Advantages of Malbec?
- oak affinity
- unique style
- good color concentration
What are the Disadvantages of Malbec?
susceptible to
- spring frost
- coulure
- phomopsis
- downy mildew
- secondary buds are infertile
The grapevine is vigorous
Why is Petit Verdot difficult to work with?
-Inconsistent ripening in cool climates. Even if it gets the hang time it needs, it may still be underripe in a cool climate.
The origin of the Petit Verdot grape is where?
- Associated with Bordeaux since at least the 18th century (first mentioned in text in 1736)
- Recent ampleographic and genetic data suggest it is most closely associated with a group of varieties originating in the PYRÉNÉES
- Pyrénées accounts for warmer climate requirement for the grape
Which is the common progenitor grape for the Bordeaux red grapes (Carmenet group)?
Cabernet Franc. Carmenet is the old word for Cabernet Franc
Which issues with Malbec may be effectively controlled through clonal selection?
Vigor and Coulure
What happened to Malbec in 1956?
The year of a great frost in Bordeaux, many Malbec vines were badly damaged, torn out and never replanted.
Where is Malbec’s home?
Southwest France in the Lot département where Cahors is located
When does Malbec bud and ripen?
early budding and mid ripening (like Cab Franc and Merlot)
What flavours can Malbec add to a blend?
Florals (violets), Black Fruit (plums and cherries)
Describe the structure of Malbec
INTENSITY - medium to pronounced
TANNINS - medium to medium (+)
BODY - medium (+) to full
ACID - medium to medium (+)
Which producer adds a significant amount of Petit Verdot to their blend?
Chateau Palmer adds up to 6% where are others add 1-3%
Name the three white grapes that dominate in Bordeaux?
Semillon , Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle
What is the origin of Semillon?
-1736 the grape was first cite as a blending partner in Sweet Bordeaux wines. Sauternes thought to be its birthplace BUT the name come from the French pronunciation of St. Émilion but not cultivated much there.
What are the advantages of Semillon ?
- affinity with new French oak flavors (vanilla/baking spice)
- ageability, developing toast and honeyed notes
- prone to noble rot (botrytis cinerea) which is good for sweet wines
- mid ripening and therefore less prone to early Autumn rains
What are the disadvantages of Semillon?
- high yielding
- botyritis bunch rot
Describe the taste of Semillon
Dry Bordeaux- light apple and lemon. Grassy when underripe.
Sweet Bordeaux - pronounced honey, dried fruit (lemon, peach) and waxy texture
Describe the structure of Semillon
INTENSITY - low to medium
BODY - low to medium
ACID - medium
Sauvignon Blanc is the parent of which Carmenet grape?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the structure of Sauvignon Blanc?
INTENISTY - medium to pronounced
BODY - light to medium
ACID - high
ALCOHOL - medium
List the advantages of Sauvignon Blanc
-popular worldwide
List the disadvantages of Sauvignon Blanc
Prone to:
- high yields
- black rot
- powdery mildew
- does not improve with age
In what blends is it used?
Dry whites and Sweet whites
What is Sauvignon Blanc’s preferred soil?
Limestone; hard chalk; marls (straight forward style); gravelly (spicier); schist
What flavors does Sauvignon Blanc give ?
herbaceous (grass) and green fruit (gooseberry) and florals (elderflower)
What does Muscadelle give to a white Bordeaux blend
grapey aromas and florals notes. Usually added to sweet wines
Muscadelle is prone to botrytis bunch rot. How can one counter this is planting the vine?
well exposed site with plenty of air flow
